Slur cam particularly adapted for use in straight knitting machines employing horizontally reciprocatable sinkers



y 1936- G. F. KETTLEBAND 2,042,062

SLUR CAM PARTICULARLY ADAPTED FOR USE IN STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES EMPLOYING HORIZONTALLY RECIPROGAIABLE SINKERS Filed Nov. 16, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l l v I ll lllllllfffiff i I I -Q wyemiidizfi f ray Q\M%M y 1936- G. F. KETTLEBAND 2,042,062 SLUR CAM PARTICULARLY ADAPTED FOR USE IN STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES EMPLOYING HORIZONTALLY RECIPROCATABLE SINKERS Filed Nov 16, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 26, 1936 FFECE SLUR CAM PARTICULARLY ADAPTED FOR USE IN STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES EMPLOYING HORIZONTALLY RECIPRO- CATABLE SINKERS Application November 16, 1934, Serial No. 753,364

13 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in slur cams particularly adapted for use on straight hosiery knitting machines having horizontally reciprocatable sinkers.

An object of my invention is to provide a slur cam structure which will yield to prevent breakage of any contacting or operating parts should an obstruction of any kind fall between the sinkers, jacks and verge plate and thus being flexible should the sinkers and jacks for any reason fail, to prevent the verge plate from damage and breakage.

A further feature of my invention is to provide a yielding device which will prevent stoppage of the slur bar due to any slur cam obstruction, thereby tending to take the strain off from the Coulier motion and prevent breakage or damage of the same.

Great difficulty has been experienced in knitting machines of this description with sinker breakage and a further feature of my invention is to provide a yieldable slur cam which while forcing the sinkers against the verge plate against the pressure of the spring will absorb any shock and thereby tend to prevent sinker breakage at the common two points thereof, namely, at the rivets of reinforcement of the sinkers and prevent crystallization between the noses and fingers thereof and breakage at these points.

A further feature of my invention is that the slur cam may be readily adjusted to force the sinker backs closer to the verge plate than hitherto for more accurate adjustment thereof without fear of damage to the same and thereby lay a more even course of stitches and thus provide a more evenly knitted fabric.

A further feature of my invention is to provide a yieldable slur cam which due to its flexibility and ability to give way to obstructions will tend to save wear on the slur cam itself and thus obviate the necessity for changes in the original setting of the slur cam as it wears down in use.

A further feature of my invention is to provide a structure which if the slur cam is set to bring the sinker backs too close to the verge plate will yield to prevent wear and breakage on all parts which come in contact with it either directly or indirectly.

Further features of my invention are to provide a novel type of slur cam, which may be constructed in a simple fashion of a simple number of parts, which is inherently strong and in which the spring means thereof is carefully concealed within the housing for the slur cam slide to prevent dust, dirt, oil, etc. from getting in contact therewith and interfering with its action.

A further feature of my invention is to provide a transverse adjustment for the slur cam which of itself will temporarily yield when the slur cam indirectly abuts the obstruction and which will immediately return to its original setting when the obstruction is passed.

A further object of my invention is to provide a finer knitted fabric by permitting a closer setting of the sinker backs relative to the verge plate by eliminating the danger of breakage formerly existing when the slur cam to advance the sinkers was set too close to the verge plate.

A further feature of my invention is to automatically compensate without danger of breakage from any variation from a true linear edge in the verge plate.

These and such other objects of my invention as may hereinafter appear will be best understood from a description of an embodiment thereof, such as is shown in the accompanying drawmgs.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the rear end of a portion of a straight knitting machine having horizontally reciprocatable sinkers showing the slur cam reciprocatably mounted on the slur cam bar with the front surface thereof abutting the rear surface of the jacks to move the sinkers back and forth against the verge plate on the sinker bed.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the parts of the knitting machine shown in Fig. 1 taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the parts of the knitting machine shown in Fig. 1 with an obstruction such as a screw fallen in between the rear edge of the verge plate and the front edge of the sinker backs showing how my improved slur cam yields to prevent breakage or wear on any adjacent part on such an occurrence. 4

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken through my improved type of slur cam along the line 3-4 of Fig. 3.

In the drawings, wherein like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout, l generally indicates an improved type of slur'cam constructed in accordance with my invention.

In order that the functioning of my improved device may be best understood I have shown in the drawings certain adjacent parts of a straight knitting machine and I have shown a section thereof. As shown in Fig. l I have shown the head rail l2 extending substantially the length of the machine and a sinker bed l4 suitably mounted on said head rail. The sinker head or bed has an upper portion l6 projecting over the lower portion l8 thereof and said portions l6 and H! are provided with adjacently oppositely aligned transverse grooves 20 and 22 respectively 'to guide the sinkers 24in their horizontally reciprocatable courses. The sinkers 24 include the reinforced backs 26 which project upwardly at right angles from the rear ends thereof and. the .usual suitably shaped noses 28. The uppersurface of the upper portion it of the sinker bed is inclined rearwardly as shown and has mounted thereon the verge plate 30 terminating in a rear edge 32 adjustably set at different distances relative to the rear end of the upper portion I6 of thesinker head. The jacks 34 are suitably mounted on the jack bed or bar 36 extendingilongitudinally of the section. The jacks are provided at the .lower ends 38 with the inclined slots 49 for mounting on saidjack' bed 36- and normally project vertically pivotally'upwardly therefrom and have at their upper ends the enlarged front portions 42 adapted to-abut the-rear ends of the sinker backs: 26 to -urge--the:sinkers forward until the front edges of thesinker backs 26 abut the rear edge 32 of the verge plate 38, the sinkers being moved backwards in use as usual by the :usual catch bar motion (not shown.) The usual slur'cams iii are reciprocatably mounted on the guide bar 44 which extends the length of the machine and are reciprocated back-and forth in the rear of their respective sinker sections by'the slur cam-bar46 on which they-are mounted,- a slur cam [8 being provided for I each section. The slur cam is adapted: to abut the rear surfaces 48 of thejacks asusual and pivot them forwards to move the sinkers forwardly.

-One' feature of my improved construction of slur-cam. is that I provide yielding spring means abutting the slur cam to permit yielding of the slur cam if the verge plate or bar should be set too close, or an obstruction should come between the-sinker back and the verge plate, or for :any other. reason,.said springmeans being normally completely concealed within the slur cam housing.,5ll. and-another desirable feature'is tor-provide. a. guideway which-will permit movement of the, slide in a single line tozobviate any tilting movement whatsoever thereof.

While my improved slur camis particularly adapted. for .useinthe type ofmachine described, as far as the inherent features of my construction are concerned it may be adapted for use in ,any desired type of. a knittingmachine.

The slur. cam if in my preferred embodiment, includes a .plate 52 provided .with the longitudinal channel 54. on the lower surface thereof for sliding on saidslurcamguide bar-44 and means, such as the bolts fifiprojecting. downwardly through suitable holes in said plate-Wand suitable aligned holes in said slur. cam bar 46 to secure said plate'52 to said slur cam bar-45 to cause reciprocation of said plate. -I provide the transversely extending ribs..58having the flat inner surfaces 60 near the frontand rear thereof to provide a guideway extending transversely over said plate.

I provide a transversely movable slide 132 mounted in said guideway and adapted to have the side walls 64 continuously abut the front and rear'portions'fiilof said ribs and having a front end 66 projecting forwardly beyond the front edge of said plate 52. The .frontedge of said slide may be provided with suitable slur cam surfaces, which as usual include the fiat central cam surface 68 and the cam surfaces 10 tapering rearwardly from the ends of said fiat cam surface 68, in the preferred embodiment shown, to the rounded ends 12. In'my preferredembodiment, however, I provide a separate slur cam plate 14 having said slur cam plate surfaces 68 and 19 and rounded ends 12 formed thereon adapted to have the. rear end 16 thereof secured underneath the front projecting end 66 of said slide 62, such as by the :bolts J8 projecting upwardly through suit 1' able rholesin the rear end of said slur cam 14 and front endof said slide 62 as shown in Fig. 4. The 'slide 62 is suitably retained between said .ribs" 58 in the guideway formed by said ribs and against 'the'upper surface of said plate 52 by the plate'sflll adapted to extend over said guideway and. having suitable holes in the outwardly projecting sides thereof to receive the screws 82 to clamp said plate'fifl to said ribs 58 to form the upper. wall of the housingfifl forhousing the slur cam slide within.

I provide spring means mountedin saidhousing 59,'normally'urging said slide 62 forward .yieldable to permitrearward movement thereof.

In my preferredembodiment said spring'means ispreferably constructed and mounted as follows: The rear portion of theguideway formed between said ribs 58 hasv projecting upwardly therefrom suitable stop. means 84 substantially centrally thereof, in my preferred embodiment comprising the bolt B l-screwed within -a suitable hole. in the uppersurface of'said plate 52 and I provide spring means, such as the helical springSB having therear end thereof adapted to abut said stop means84, and the front end thereof adapted to abut the rear surface of the front end 38 of -a transverse slot 81.- formed centrally in said slide .62. It is thus obvious that if the slur cam should strike anyeobstructionor abutment tending to cause rearward motion of-said slur cam 14 or slide -62-that the spring-86 will become compressed .within .said-slotBl to permit said rearward movement of saidslide 62 and attached slur cam 74.

. I also provide means to adjust the normal transverse position of said slide and permit said rearward movement thereof and in my preferred embodiment. said means'includes the-lug 92 projecting rearwardly from the rear end of said plate.52- slightly spaced from the center thereof. I provide the screw 94 .mounted substantially centrally of the. rear end 96 of said slide 62 and I provide the circular nut 98 having the teeth I00 on the, periphery thereof and threadedly adjustably mounted on said rearwardly projecting screw means94 was to --have the front surface I02 thereof abut said plate lug 32 projecting rear vwardly from said plate 52. It is obvious there fore that with said lug 92 continuously abutting the front surface I02 of said rotating circular nut 98 that rotation of said nut in one direction will cause forward movement of said slide 62 and in the opposite direction rearward movement of said slide. I also provide means to lock said nut 98 in "adjustable positions permitting rearward'motionof said slide andin my preferred embodiment said means includes the combination of said teeth I00 extending across said circular nut and a'flat spring member ")4 having the lower end I06 thereof mounted on one edge of said plate 52.extending upwardly over said nut 98 and terminating inan end bent downwardly as at N18 to engage a tooth to retain said slide and slur cam.

in adjusted position permitting movement of said nut rearward and retaining it in adjusted rotary position on rearward movement of said slur cam 16 and slide 62.

It is thus apparent that I have provided a novel type of slur cam including a slide therefor compactly mounted within a suitable housing slidable on the slur cam guide bar and actuated by the slur cam bar and in which said slide and slur cam are transversely reciprocal therein and are provided with means within said housing to continuously urge said slur cam forward permitting yielding rearward motion thereof when said slur cam is set too close to the verge plate or an obstruction falls between the rear edge of the verge plate and the front edges of the sinker backs and that I have provided in combination therewith means to adjust the normal transverse position of said slur cam, said means permitting yielding motion of said slur cam for any of the reasons mentioned hitherto and that I have provided such a slur cam particularly adapted for use on straight knitting machines having horizontally reciprocal sinkers, of a simple and durable construction with the additional advantages explained in detail above.

It is understood that my invention is not limited to the specific embodiment shown and that various deviations may be made therefrom without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a straight knitting machine, a section of horizontally reciprocatable sinkers, a cooperating number of jacks each vertically pivotally mounted on said machine to horizontally reciprocate its respective sinker, a slur cam guide bar stationarily and a slur cam bar reciprocally mounted in the rear thereof, and a slur cam for pivoting said jacks comprising a plate mounted on said slur cam guide bar and attached to said slur cam bar and having ribs projecting upwardly therefrom forming a transverse guideway and stop means projecting upwardly substantially centrally of the rear portion of said guideway and a lug projecting rearwardly therefrom slightly spaced from the center thereof, a transversely movable slide mounted in said guideway to have the side walls continuously abut the front and rear portions of said ribs and to project forwardly beyond the front edge of said plate having a central transverse slot and a screw projecting substantially centrally rearwardly thereof, a flat slur cam plate having on the front cam edge thereof a flat central portion and portions tapering rearwardly therefrom and the rear end thereof secured underneath the front projecting end of said slide, spring means abutting said stop means and the front end of said slot to yield to permit rearward movement of said slur cam slide, a circular nut having teeth on the periphery thereof threadedly adjustably mounted on said rearwardly projecting screw means having the front edge thereof abutting said plate lug, and a flat spring projecting from said plate over said teeth terminating in an end slidable over said teeth on turning of said nut to engage a tooth to retain said slide and slur cam in adjusted position permitting movement of said nut rearwards in retained adjusted position on rearward movement of said slur cam and slide and plate means mounted on said ribs and extending over said slide to retain said slide within said guideway.

and stop means projecting upwardly substantially centrally of the rear portion of said guideway, and a lug projecting rearwardly from said housing slightly spaced from the center thereof, a

transversely movable slide mounted in said guide-' way to have the side walls continuously abut the front and rear portions of said guideway, having a central transverse slot, a screw projecting substantially centrally rearwardly thereof and a slur cam on the front edge thereof, having a flat central portion and portions tapering rearwardly therefrom, spring means abutting said stop means'and thefront end of said slot to yield to permit rearward movement of said slide and slur cam, a circular nut having teeth on the periphery thereof threadedly adjustably mounted on said rearwardly projecting screw means having the front edge thereof abutting said housing lug, and a fiat spring projecting from said housing over said teeth terminating in an end slidable over said teeth on turning of said nut to engage a tooth to retain said slide and slur cam in adjusted position permitting movement of said nut rearwards in retained adjusted position on rearward movement of said slur cam and slide.

3. In a straight knitting machine, a section of horizontally movable sinkers, a cooperating number of jacks each vertically pivotally mounted on said machine to horizontally reciprocate its respective'sinker, a slur cam guide bar stationarily and a slur cam bar reciprocally mounted in rear thereof, and a slur cam for pivotingsaid jacks comprising a plate adapted to be mounted on said slur cam guide bar and attached to said slur cam bar and having ribs projecting upwardly therefrom forming a transverse guideway, and a lug projecting rearwardly therefrom slightly spaced from the center thereof, a transversely movable slide mounted in said guideway to have the side walls continuously abut the front and rear portions of said ribs and to project forwardly beyond the front edge of said plate and a screw projecting substantially centrally rearwardly thereof, a flat slur cam plate having on the front cam edge thereof a flat central portion and portions tapering rearwardly therefrom and the rear end thereof secured underneath the front projecting end of said slide, spring means abutting said plate and slide to normally urge said slide forwards yieldable to permit rearward movement thereof, a circular nut having teetlr on the periphery thereof threadedly adjustably mounted on said rearwardly projecting. screw means having the front edge thereof abutting said plate lug, and a flat spring projecting from said plate over said teeth terminating in an end slidable over said teeth on turning of said nut to engage a tooth toretain said slide and slur cam in adjusted position permitting movement of said nut front cam edge thereof a'fiat central portion and 4LIn-av straight: knitting machine, a section :of

horizontally movable sinkers, a. cooperatingv number of jacks each vertically: pivotally mounted on said machine to horizontally reciprocate its respective sinker, a slur cam guide .bar stationarily and a'slur cam bar reciprocally mounted in rear thereof, and a slur cam for pivoting said jacks comprising a hollow transverse guideway forming housing mounted on saidslur cam guide bar'and attached to said slur cam bar: and havingopen front and rear ends and a lug projecting rear wardly therefrom slightly spaced from the. center thereof, a transversely movableslide mounted in said guideway to have the side walls continuously abut the front and rear portions. of said guideway to project forwardly beyond the front edge of said plate, a screw projecting substantially centrally rearwardly thereof, and a slur cam on the front edge thereof having a flatoch-- tral portion and portions tapering rearwardly therefrom, spring means mounted in said housing normally urging said slide forward yieldable to permit rearward movement of said slur cam slide, a circular nut having teeth on the periphery thereof threadedly adjustably mounted on said rearwardly projecting screw means having the front edge thereof abutting said plate lug, and a flat spring projecting from said plate over saidteeth terminating in an end slidable over said teeth on turning of said nut to engage a tooth to retain said slide and slur cam in adjusted position permitting movment of said nut rearwards in retained adjusted position on rearward movement of said slur cam and slide.

5. In a straight knitting machine, a section of horizontally movable sinkers, a cooperating number of jacks each vertically pivotally mounted on said machine to horizontally reciprocate its respective sinker, a slur cam guide bar stationarily and a slur cam bar reciprocally mounted in rear thereof, and a slur cam for pivoting said jacks comprising a plate mounted on said slur cam guide bar and attached to said slur cam bar and having ribs projecting upwardly therefrom forming a transverse guideway and stop means projecting upwardly substantially centrally of the rear portion of said guideway, a transversely movable slide mounted in said guideway, to have the side. walls continuously abut the front and rear portions of said ribs and to project forwardly beyond the front edge of said plate having a central transverse slot, a flat slur cam plate having on the portions tapering rearwardly therefrom and the rear end thereof secured underneath the front projecting end of said slide, spring'means abutting said stop means and the front end of said slot to yield-to permit rearward movement of said slur cam slide, and means to adjust the normal trans verse position of said slide permitting rearward movement thereof on rearward movement of said slur cam plate, and plate means mounted on said ribs and extending over said slide to retain said slide within said guideway.

6; In a straight knitting machine, a section of horizontally reciprocatable sinkers, a cooperating number of jacks each vertically pivotally mounted on said machine to horizontally reciprocate its respective sinker, a slur cam guide bar stationarily and a slur cambar reciprocally mounted in rear thereof, and a slur cam for pivotingsaid jacks; comprising a hollow transverse guideway forming housing mounted on said slur cam guide bar and attached to said slur cam bar and having open front and rear ends and stop.

means projecting upwardly substantially central-- ly of the rearportion of said guideway,-a trans-- versely movable slide mounted in said guideway, to have the side walls continuously abut the front and rearportions of said guideway having a central transverse slot, aslurcam' on the front cam edge thereof, having a flat central portion and portions tapering rearwardly therefrom, spring means abutting said stop means and thefront end of said slot normally urging said slide forwards yieldable to. permit rearward movement thereof and meansto adjust the normal transverse position of said slide permitting rearward, movement thereof.

'7. In a straight knitting machine, a section of horizontally reciprocatable sinkers, a cooperating number of jacks each vertically pivotally mounted on said machine to horizontally recip rocate its respective sinker, a slur cam guide barstationarily and a slur cam bar reciprocally mounted in the rear thereof, and a slur cam for pivoting said jacks comprising ahollow transverseguideway forming housing mounted on said slur cam guide bar and attached to said slur cam bar and havingopen front and rear ends abut the front and'rear portions of said guide- 9 way having a central transverse slot, a slur cam on the front cam edge thereof, having a fiat central portion and portions" tapering rearwardly therefrom and spring means abutting said step means and the front end of said slotnormallyi urging said slide forwards yieldableto permit" rearward movement thereof.

8. A slur cam comprising a plate adapted to: be mounted on a slur .cam guide shaft having ribs projecting upwardly therefrom forminga transverse guideway and stop means projecting upwardly substantially'centrally of the 'rear portion of said guideway, and a lug projecting rearwardly therefrom slightly spaced from the center thereof, a transversely movable slide mounted in said guideway to have the side walls continuously abut the front and rear portions-of saidribs and to project forwardly beyond the front edge of said plate havinga central transverse slot and a screw projecting substantially centrallyv rearwardly thereof, a flat slur cam plate'havingv on the front cam edge thereof a fiat central'portion and portions tapering rearwardly therefrom and the rear end thereof secured'underneath the 5 front projecting end of said slide, spring means abutting said stop means and the front end-of said slot to yield to permit rearward movement of said slur cam slide, a circular nut having teeth on the periphery thereof threadedly adjustablymounted on said rearwardly projecting screw: means having the front edge thereof abutting said plate lug, and a flat spring projecting from said plate over said teeth terminating in an end slid-- able over said teeth on turning of said nutv to engage a tooth to retain said slide and slur cam in adjusted position permitting movement of said nut rearwards in retained adjusted position on rearward movement of said slur cam'and slide and plate means mounted on said ribs and extending over said slide to retain said slide withinsaid guideway.

9. A slur cam comprising a hollow transverse guideway forming housing adapted to be; mounted..-

on a slur cam guide shaft having open front and-:-

rear ends and stop means projecting upwardly substantially centrally of the rear portion of said guideway, and a lug projecting rearwardly from said housing slightly spaced from the center thereof, a transversely movable slide mounted in said guideway to have the side walls continuously abut the front and rear portions of said guideway having a central transverse slot, a screw projecting substantially centrally rearwardly thereof, and a slur cam on the front edge thereof having a flat central portion and portions tapering rearwardly therefrom, spring means abutting said stop means and the front end of said slot to yield to permit rearward movement of said slide and slur cam, a circular nut having teeth on the periphery thereof threadedly adjustably mounted on said rearwardly projecting screw means having the front edge thereof abutting said-housing lug, and a flat spring projecting from said housing over said teeth terminating in an end slidable over said teeth on turning of said nut to engage a tooth to retain said slide and slur cam in adjusted position permitting movement of said nut rearwards in retained adjusted position on rearward movement of said slur cam and slide.

10. A slur cam comprising a hollow transverse guideway forming housing adapted to be mounted on a slur cam guide shaft having open front and rear ends and stop means projecting upwardly substantially centrally of the rear portion of said guideway, and a lug projecting rearwardly therefrom slightly spaced from the center thereof, a transversely movable slide mounted in said guideway to have the side wallscontinuously abut the front and rear portions of said guideway and to project forwardly beyond the front edge of said plate having a central transverse slot, a screw projecting substantially centrally rearwardly thereof, and a slur cam on the front edge thereof having a flat central portion and portions tapering rearwardly therefrom, spring means abutting said stop means and the front end of said slot normally urging said slide forwards yieldable to permit rearward movement of said slur cam slide, a circular nut having teeth on the periphery thereof threadedly adjustably mounted on saidrearwardly projecting screw means having the front edge thereof abutting said plate lug, and a flat spring projecting from said plate over said teeth terminating in an end slidable over said teeth on turning of said nut to engage a tooth to retain said slide and slur cam in adjusted position permitting movement of said nut rearwards in retained adjusted position on rearward movement of said slur cam and shaft.

11. A slur cam comprising a plate adapted to be mounted on a slur cam guide shaft having ribs projecting upwardly therefrom forming a transverse guideway and. stop means projecting upwardly substantially centrally of the rear por- 5 tion of said guideway, a transversely movable slide mounted in said guideway, to have the side walls continuously abut the front and rear portions of said ribs and to project forwardly beyond the front edge of said plate having a central transverse slot, a flat slur cam plate having on the front cam edge thereof a fiat central portion and portions tapering rearwardly therefrom and the rear end thereof secured underneath the front projecting end of said slide, spring means abutting said stop means and the front end of said slot to yield to permit rearward movement of said slur cam slide, and means to adjust the normal transverse position of said plate permitting rearward movement thereof on rearward movement of said slur cam plate and plate means mounted on said ribs and extending over said slide to retain said slide within said guideway.

12. A slur cam comprising a hollow transverse guideway forming housing adapted to be mounted on a slur cam guide shaft having open front and rear ends and stop means projecting upwardly substantially centrally of the rear portion of said guideway, a transversely movable slide mounted in said guideway, to have the side walls continu- 3O ously abut the front and rear portions of said guideway having a central transverse slot and a slur cam on the front cam edge thereof, having a flat central portion and portions tapering rearwardly therefrom, spring means abutting said stop means and the front end of said slot normally urging said slide forwards yieldable to permit rearward movement thereof and means to adjust the normal transverse position of said slide permitting rearward movement thereof.

13. A slur cam comprising a hollow transverse guideway forming housing adapted to be mounted on a slur cam guide shaft having open front and rear ends and stop means projecting upwardly substantially centrally of the rear portion of said guideway, a transversely movable slide mounted in said guideway to have the side walls continuously abut the front and rear portions of said guideway having a central transverse slot and a slur cam on the front cam edge thereof having a flat central portion and portions tapering rearwardly therefrom and spring means abutting said stop means and the front end of said slot normally urging said slide forwards yieldable to permit rearward movement thereof.

GEORGE F. KETTLEBAND. 

